Biotechnological approach towards a highly efficient production of natural prostaglandins

Production of prostaglandin F2α by molecular breeding of an oleaginous fungus Mortierella alpina

Cyclooxygenases are responsible for the production of prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) from arachidonic acid. PGH2 can be converted into some bioactive prostaglandins, including prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), a potent chemical messenger used as a biological regulator in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology. The chemical messenger PGF2α has been industrially produced by chemical synthesis. To develop a biotechnological process, in which PGF2α can be produced by a microorganism, we transformed an oleaginous fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4, rich in triacylglycerol consisting of arachidonic acid using a cyclooxygenase gene from a red alga, Gracilaria vermiculophylla. PGF2α was accumulated not only in the mycelia of the transformants but also in the extracellular medium. After 12 days of cultivation approximately 860 ng/g and 6421 µg/L of PGF2α were accumulated in mycelia and the extracellular medium, respectively. The results could facilitate the development of novel fermentative methods for the production of prostanoids using an oleaginous fungus.